Rockford launches new downtown holiday celebration

ROCKFORD — A candlelight Stroll on State street on Nov. 30 will kick off the Christmas holiday season in downtown Rockford as part of a new multi-faceted celebration.

The Merry & Bright: A Downtown Holiday bash was announced Wednesday by the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“The Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect weekend to do this, with our families reconnecting in Rockford,” said John Groh, president and CEO of the visitors bureau.

The events include:

Stroll: From 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. the area between Second and Wyman streets will be closed. It will start outside City Hall, 425 E. State St., and proceed to the PNC Bank Plaza at 120 W. State St.

Tree: Mayor Larry Morrissey and his family will light a 35-foot tall Christmas tree outside the bank at 6:15 p.m.

Music: Carolers and roaming musicians will entertain attendees. A stage will also be set up on Water Street to showcase musicians, and Water Street will close to traffic for the celebration. The Moonlight Jazz Orchestra will perform a free concert in the lobby of Chase Bank at 401 E. State St.

S’mores: Heat barrels will be set up on Water Street for roasting marshmallows and making free S’mores treats.

Food and shopping: Street vendors and food trucks will set up along the route, and downtown restaurants will offer food samples. Bars will offer drink specials. Specialty shops and boutiques also will be open for the celebration that starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.

Market: More than 20 Rockford City Market vendors and Rockford’s Etsy shop owners will sell their wares in the lobby of City Hall.

Santa and movie: Kids can visit with Santa and pet reindeer for free at Joe Marino Park at Water and State streets, where “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” will be projected on the side of a building.

Sweets: The former Water Street Cafe at Water and State streets will be transformed into Lollipop Land, where The Sweetery will offer baked goods.

Ice skating: A parking lot at the Register Star, 99 E. State St., will be transformed into the BMO Harris Bank’s Winter Wonderland ice skating rink. There is no fee to skate, and the rink will also be open on Dec. 1 as well, with times to be determined. Winter Wonderland will not be set up at Davis Park this year as it has in years past.

Decorated poles and windows: Light poles along State Street will be decorated with garland and holiday lights. Hundreds of volunteers from Heartland Community Church are building oversized decorations including lollipops, presents and ornaments that will decorate vacant storefront windows and other areas downtown. And a dozen businesses along State and Main streets will decorate their windows. The decorations will remain in place through Jan. 31.

“Unfortunately, for too many years, downtown Rockford has looked dreary during the holidays,” Groh said. “Knowing what Heartland and Rockford Sharefest have done for (sprucing up) our schools, I can’t wait to see what will happen when they set their sights on downtown for the holidays.”